Elevator entrance sills



United States Patent i 2,855,637 ELnvAroR ENTRANCE slLLs Daniel Dario Tofanell, Bronxville, N. Y., assigner to Otis Elevator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey This invention relates to an adjustably mounted door sill'which adjustably supports a door frame and hanger framework and has special application in elevator hoistway entrances utilizing horizontally sliding doors.

' It is common practice'in modern elevator installations to utilize hoistway entrances for slide type doors consisting of metal sills on which are mounted the door frame and the hanger framework which supports the hanger rails. Inasmuch as the smooth operation of the doors isa function of their position in respect to the elevator car itself and since the door frame and hanger framework must be properly positioned in respect to the elevator car, it is desirable that the location of the door sill be accurately lixed in relation to the main guide rails for the elevator car. On some power actuated doors the movement of the hoistway door is accomplished by the temporary coupling of a vertical vane mounted on the outside of the elevator car door to a mechanism on the hoistway door. If this vertical vane is misaligned due to oli center assembly of the elevator car doors or if the hoistway doors are being guided on a misaligned sill, the free sliding travel of the doors will be impeded.

The prior practice of installing a door sill required the use of a template for providing that both ends of the sill were a predetermined distance from the main guide rails and that the sill was properly positioned with respect to the mid-point between opposing guide rails. Making a template on the job site cannot be performed with the exactness of a factory machine and minor inaccuracies in the template have resulted in misalignment of the door sill and in improper installation of the door hanger rails.

' lt is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an elevator hoistway entrance with a door sill which may be more readily mounted on a supporting structure in true alignment with respect to the elevator car guide rails.

Another object of this invention resides in an elevator hoistway door sill which is adjustably mounted on a supporting structure and on which ancillary entrance equipment may be adjustably supported in proper align` ment relative to the elevator car guide rails.

, Another object of this invention is to provide an improved door sill that eliminates the necessity of drilled holes and consequently facilitates the manufacture and installation of the sill.

A further object of this invention is to provide a door sill with a grooved slot along its undersurface for slidably receiving the heads of fasteners and a grooved slot along its upper surface for slidably receiving the heads of additional fasteners and to serve as a track for slide type doors.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an elevator hoistway door .sill with adjustable mounting means to assure that .the sill may be properly located sidewise` and have the correct spacing from the fron edge of the elevator car platform. l

2,855,637 Patented oci. 14, A 195,8

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Additional features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a partial plan view of an elevator hoistway entrance showing a pair of center opening doors accurate-4 ly mounted therein by means of an adjustable door sill;

Figure 2 is a partial view in elevation showing the installation of an adjustable door sill;

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial plan view of one end of Figure 1 showing mounting and supporting brackets adjustably attached to the door sill;

Figure 4 is an enlarged end view taken on line 4;-4 of Figure 2; p l

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 6 6 of Figure 2.

The elevator hoistway may be constructed in any.

suitable manner, as by concrete 1, to which is attached oppositely disposed elevator guide rails 2 for guiding the elevator car during its vertical path of travel. trance connects the elevator hoistway to a floor landing 3 which is constructed of a rough flooring 4 and a finished ilooring 5 in a conventional manner as illustrated in Figure 6.

The adjustable door sill 6 may be manufactured from any type of material and by any wellknown` method, but an extrusion of a non-ferrous alloy is preferred. Throughout the length of the sill 6 there is an inverted T-slot 7 (Fig. 4) along its top surface and a T-slot 8 along its bottom surface; the purpose of such lots will be set forth hereinafter.

The door sill (Fig. 2) is supported by and is attached to the rough floor 4 by means of a plurality of spaced mounting brackets, each of which has a sill supporting portion 11 offset from an attaching portion 12. As is shown in Figure 6, the reason for offsetting the sill supporting portion 11 is to allow the upper surface of the sill 6 to be mounted in flush relation with the finished flooring 5. A slot 13 `(Fig. 3) in the attaching portion 12 receives a headed bolt 14 which attaches the mounting bracket to the rough lloorng 4. The threaded shank of the bolt 14 may be imbedded in the rough floor by any suitable means, such as an expansion shield. The sill 6 is mounted on the sill supporting portion 11 of the mounting bracket by means of a nut 15 and bolt 16, the head of which is confined within the T-slot 8 in the bottomsurface of the sill. The number and spacing ar rangement of the mounting brackets are determined by the weight of the entranceway structure to be supported thereon.

As is shown in Figure 3, the sill is adjustable along its longitudinal axis by means of bolt 16 sliding in slot 8 and is adjustable along its transverse axis by means of bolt 14 sliding in slot 13. These adjustments in two different horizontal directions make possible the proper positioning of the center line of sill 6 with respect yto the center line between the guide rails 2, and also permit of correct spacing between the front edge of the elevator c ar platform and the edge'of the sill 6.

The Idoor jambs 17 (Figures 3 and 4) are supported on the sill 6 by means of supporting brackets 20, each of which has a sill attaching portion 21 offset from a jamb supporting portion 22. As is shown in Figure 5, the reason for offsetting the sill attaching portion 21 is to permit it to be attached to the bottom surface of the sill 6 by means of a pair ofV nuts 23 and a pair of bolts 24, the heads Iof which are confined within the same T-slot 8 as is the head of bolt 16. A pair of apertures 25 in the sup- An eni porting portion 22 are aligned with a pair of slots 26 in an angle bracket 27 that is secured to the door jamb 17. Each aligned aperture 25 and slot 26 receive a bolt 28, anda pair of nuts 29, one for each bolt28, retain .the angle bracket 27 Lon the supporting portion 22 to support the door jamb'17 thereon.

In order to prevent any interference between the movement Vof sliding doors and the door jambs and to insure a symmetrical appearance to the entrance installation, it is .necessary .that the door jambs be accurately positioned in relation to other entrance equipment. To locate the d-oor jamb 17 with respect to the center line of the sill 6, the supporting bracket v2.0 is adjustable along the longitudinal -axis of vsill 6 by sliding the heads of bolts 24 in the T-SlOt `8. To vabut the rear 'face .of the door jamb 17 against the edge of the sill `6, the angle bracket 27 is adjustable along the transverse axis of sill 6 by sliding the heads of bolts 28 'in the slots 26. Thus each door jamb is separately adjustable, .or if the two door jambs are integrally united with a top header .bar (not shown) the integral door frame is adjustable .as a single un'it.

It is to be understood that this invention is -adaptable to any conventional type of .sliding door but is applied here to a pair of center .opening doors 30, as shown in Figures l and 2. The doors 30 are suspended from an overhead hanger track, .not shown, in the conventional manner and the track is supported by a hanger framework which isrepresented on the drawing as a pair of vertical anglebeams 31. These Aare supported on the sill 6 by Iangle brackets 32, with one beam adjacent each end of the sill.

IOne 'leg of therangle .bracket (Fig. 4) isintegrally connected to vthe'beam 31 :as by welding and the other leg is attached to the sill 6 by means of a nut 33 and a bolt 34, the head of which is .confined within the inverted T-slot 7 along the top surface of the sill 6. Thus each beam 31 is separately adjustable along the longitudinal axis of sill 6 or in the event the two beams 31 are integral parts of the hanger framework, the framework is adjusted as a single un'it. This supporting arrangement for the beams 31 permits an adjustment for the door tracks, and hence the doors 30, which is independent of the `adjustments for the door jambs 17 and the sill 6.

l A pair of guides 35 (Fig. 5) are spaced along the bottom of each door 3.0 and -are medially located between the 'front and backpanels of the door. Inasmuch as the T-slot7 (Fig. ,3) along the top surface of the-sill 6 is only utilized at its extremitiesby thefastening for framework supporting'brackets 32, the ,remainder of the T-slot is utilized as -a guiding .track .for .thedoor Iguides 3.5. This is apparent from'l-iigure .1 wherein the doors 30in moving to their fully opened position,.as indicatedby the dot-dash lines, d-o not travel as far `as the framework supporting bracketsf32.

The various adjustments referred to above may be made singularly, plurally or conjunctively in any combination `deemed desirabletoperfect the installation of the hoist- Way entrance. Furthermore, the construction is so arranged .that access to .certain of the components may be obtained even. after installation when readjustment may be needed. For instance, nuts 29 are accessible behind the doorjarnbs 17 which .are substantially .U-shaped; nuts 15 are accessible by removal of kick plate 36; and, .nuts 33 .are accessible from the hoistway.

Although this adjustable sill has -been described as applied to a hoistway, it is to be understood that it is alsoiapplicable to theelevator car.

As many changes could be utilized in the :above construction :and many widely different .embodiments of this invention could'be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that'all the matter contained in the above description .orshown on the Aaccompanying drawnglshall-be interpreted as illustrative .and notin. a limitingtsense.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a door sill for an elevator entrance, said sill being in the form of an elongated rectangular strip having a rst grooved slot along its lower surface and a second grooved slot along its upper surface in spaced parallel relation to said rst grooved slot, mounting means for said sill, means slidably disposed along said first grooved slot to adjustably attach said sill to said mounting means, door track supporting means, and means slidably disposed along .said second grooved slot to adjustably attach said track supporting means to said sill.

2. A door sill for an elevator entrance having a horizontally sliding door comprising, an elongated rectangular strip, a rst T-slot in the vbottoni surface of said strip, a second T-slot in the top surface of said strip, a plurality of mounting'brackets spaced along said first slot and a headed bolt for each mounting bracket slidably disposed in said first T-slot to mount adjustably vsaid sill on Aa supporting structure, a plurality of supporting brackets spaced from saidmounting brackets along said first T-slot and a headed bolt for .each supporting bracket slidably disposed in saidiirst T-slot to support adjustably a s upported structure onsaid strip, and an angle .bracket at each end of said strip and a headed bolt for eachangle bracket slidably disposed in said second T-slot to support adjustably an additional supported structure onsaid strip, said second T-slot being adapted to guidethe yhorizontally sliding door.

3. In combination with a door sill for an elevator entrance, a plurality of mounting brackets 4and a headed bolt for each mounting bracket, .a plurality 2of supporting brackets and a headed bolt for each supporting'bracket, and a plurality of angle Vbrackets and aheaded .bolt for each angle bracket, a rst T- slot in the lower surfaceof said sill and a second T-slot in the upper surface of said sill oppositely disposed to and spaced ,in parallel relation from said first T- slot, the headed boltsofsaid mounting brackets being slidably disposed 4in lsaid rst T- slot to mount adjustably said sillon a supporting structure, the headed bolts of said supporting lbrackets ,being also slidably disposed in said first T-slot to attachadjustably a supported structure to said Sill, and the headedzbolts of said angle brackets .being slidably disposed in `said second T.slot to attach adjustably an additionalsupported structure to said sill.

4. In combination with structure forming an elevator entranceway, a door sill adapted to be mounted adjustably on a supporting structure and to support adjustably said entranceway structure, said sill having an uppergrooved slot along its top surface and a lower groovedslot along its'bottorn surface, means slidably disposed in .said upper grooved slot to support adjustably said entranceway structure and means slidably disposed in said lower groovedrslot for adjustably mounting said sill on a supporting structure.

5. In combination with an elevator hoistway Ventrance having sliding type doors, a door sill for supporting said entrance in relative alignment to `an elevator hoistway, said entrance comprising a door 'hanger framework and a door frame, said sill having an l,upper T-slot along its top surface to serve as a track for said doors ,and ailower T-slot along its bottom surface, a plurality of spaced mounting brackets, a headed bolt 'for each bracket slidably disposed in said lower T-slot whereby saidsill may be adjustably mounted on said supporting structure, a plurality of'spaced olfset supporting brackets, said door frame rigidly attached to said supporting brackets, a headed bolt for each supporting bracket slidablyvdisposed in said lower T-slot whereby said door frame may be adjustably supported on said sill, a plurality of spaced angle brackets, said door hanger framework rigidly attached to said angle brackets, a headed bolt-for each angle bracket slidably disposed in said upper lT-slot whereby said Idoor hanger frameworkmay be adjustably-supportedon said sill.

6. An elevator hoistway entrance having in combination, slide type doors, a door hanger framework, a door frame and a door sill, an upper T-slot in the top'surface of said sill, a lower T-slot in the bottom surface of said sill, said lower T-slot having rst means to mount said sill on a supporting structure in alignment with an elevator hoistway and second means to support said door frame in alignment with the elevator hoistway, said first means including a plurality of mounting brackets adapted to be secured to said supporting structure and a headed bolt for each bracket slidably disposed in said lower T-slot to secure adjustably said sill to said mounting brackets, said second means including a plurality of olet supporting brackets attached to said door frame and a headed bolt for each supporting bracket slidably disposed in said lower T-slot to secure adjustably said supporting brackets to said sill, said upper T-slot being a track to guide the sliding movement of said doors and having means to support said door hanger framework in alignment with the elevator hoistway, said last mentioned means including a plurality of angle brackets secured to said door hanger frame work and a headed bolt for each angle bracket slidably disposed in said upper T-slot to secure adjustably said channel brackets to said sill.

7. In an elevator entranceway at the floor of a building and leading to an elevator hoistway, said oor being formed by building structure, said entranceway having a pair of door jambs, one on each side of said entranceway, and being provided with a sliding door having an overhead track, and in which a pair of supporting uprights is provided, one for each side of said entranceway, for supporting the overhead track for said door, in combination, an elongated rectangular strip, serving as a sill for said door, said strip having a first T-slot extending longitudinally of the strip in the lower surface thereof and a second T-slot extending longitudinally of the strip in the upper surface thereof in spaced parallel relation to said rst T-slot, said second T-slot being inverted with respect to said rst T-slot and serving as a guide for said door, sill mounting brackets adjustably secured to said building structure, a plurality of bolts, one for each mounting bracket, for securing said sill to said brackets, the heads of said bolts slidably extending into said rst T-slot to facilitate sidewise adjustment of said sill, a jamb supporting bracket for each of said door jambs adjustably secured thereto, a pair of bolts for each of said supporting brackets for adjustably securing said supporting brackets to said sill, the heads of said supporting bracket securing bolts also slidably extending to said first T-slot to facilitate sidewise adjustment of said door jambs, and a pair of bolts, one for each of said supporting uprights, for securing said uprights to `said sill, the heads of said last named bolts slidably extending into said second T-slot, one at each end of said sill, for facilitating sidewise adjustment of said uprights.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,944,440 Lehman Jan. 28, 1934 2,181,812 Kammerer Nov. 28, 1939 2,380,379 Attwood July 31, 1945 2,558,283 Wharton et al June 26, 1951 2,676,680 Kindorf Apr. 27, 1954 2,728,118 Gossen Dec. 27, 1955 

